Fluid gas gun



July 15, 1941. F. E. GREENE FLUID GAsGUN Filed July 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmm a om,

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I Patented July 15, 1941 STATES TENT oI-rics This invention relates generally to guns and more particularly to that type of gun especially adapted to project a stream of fluid under pressure.

The particular purpose for which the gun is designed necessitatesthe use of a liquid which contains a percentage of aqua ammonia (a solution of a pungent gas, NH3, in water). I propose to add to this solution a small amount of glycerine which increases the viscosity of the :duid permittingit to evaporate lalmost instantaneously upon striking the targetqat which the gun is directed. The greatest use for my invenv tion containing the Vabove described liquid is by guards of reformatories or penitentiaries, or animal keepers, for the purpose of subduing a riotous prisoner or viscous animal. The amount used each time the liquid is projected need not be great, the effect being that when the iluid strikes the person or animal at which it is directed and inmediately evaporates, anauseating vapor is given off which the person `or animal is forced to breath and subdues themsuiciently to bring them under control for a period of several minutes.

While I have specified the use of a solution of aqua ammonia and glycerine as the desired solution to be used with` the gun of my invention, it is to be understood that any other solution or liquid such as water or the like can be projected equally as well, but of course, such a liquid could not be used for the purposes above outlined. However, it is within the scope of my invention that any liquid whatsoever can be projected from the gun.

Since, inthe particular use of the invention but which stream will be entirely cut off whenv` the trigger reaches its rearmost position.

A still further object is to provide effective but humane'l means by which viscous persons or animals may be quickly subdued and brought under control. Y

Other objects and purposes of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of means hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, said means constituting, however, but one of various ways in' which the principle of the invention may be employed.

The annexed drawings and following description set forth in detail certain mechanism by which the invention may be carried out. In said annexed drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken llongitudinally through my device, parts 4being shown in eleval tion.A

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the trigger mechanism showing the same in completely retracted lposition..

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken laterally through the gun.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the separate trigger mechanism, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section and elevation of a modification of the trigger mechanism.

Specifically referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the gun comprises upper and lower elongated tubular members I and 2 respectively. The upper and lower members are secured together by means of welding or any other desired means and are provided with communicating passages, the forward one being indicated by the numeral 3, and the rearward one by the numeral l.

The upper member I is closed at its forward end but its rear end is open and threaded for a purpose which willbe hereinafter more fully described. Thelower member 2 is closed at both ends, but has an opening 5 near the rear end thereof which communicates with the hol1owhandle member 6. The handle 6 may be made either integral with the lower tubular member 2 or may be secured thereto such as by welding.

Within the upper member I is secured .the gas cartridge retainer I for the purpose of receiving therein one end of the gas cartridge 8, such cartridges being of the character commonly used in siphon bottles. The Vrear end of the tubular member I is threaded to receive a seal nut 8, be-

tween which and the end of the tube is located forward end with a threaded opening which is enlarged rearwardly and terminates in a larger threaded opening at the rear.

A penetrating screw II is inserted within the seal nut 9 and is of a diameter such that it may be threadedly engaged at the forward end of the nut with the smaller threaded opening therein. The forward end of the screw II is provided with a piercing point I2. An amount of packing I3 is placed within the larger opening in the seal nut 3 and around the penetrating screw II, which is packed tightly by the packing nut I4 adapted to be'threadedly engaged with said larger opening at the rear of the seal nut 9. The penetrating screw II is provided with a head I5 at its outer end to facilitate the piercing of the gas cartridge 8. At the forward end of the lower tube 2 and therebelow is secured a nozzle I6 having the preferred cross section as shown in Fig. 1. The forward end of the nozzle is provided with an opening I1 which is reduced in area to provide the constricted opening I8 rearwardly thereof. 'I'he passageway is then enlarged as at I9 for a distance when it is enlarged still more for the purpose of receiving the packing 20. The nozzle is further provided with the packing gland provided with openings through which the valve The valve stem at' stem 23 is adapted to pass. its forward end is made smaller and becomes pointed as at 24 so as to eectively close the conin Fig. 2'will cause a retraction of the valve stem 23. i

The lower portion of the trigger is recessed as at 39 and is provided with a coiled compression springv 40 to maintain the trigger in its normal forward position except when it is retracted by the use ofmanual force.

The upper forward end of the trigger guide 28 is provided with a camming member which has a beveled surface 4I as shownin Fig. l.

' The rear end of the latch member 31 is also stricted passage I8. Extending downwardly from the lower tubular member 2 is .the valve guide 25. The valve stem 23 is threaded along a portion of its length and receives the spring nut 28,' between which and the valve guide 25 is located a coiled compression spring 21 to insure the closure of the nomle by the valve stem in its normal position.

A trigger guide member 23 of the configuration shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is secured at its lower rear end to the handle member 8 by means of the screw 23 extendingthrough said handle and the downwardly extending portion 38 of the guide member. The upper forward end of the -guide member 28 is secured to the iowerside of the tubular members 2 by means of the screws 3| (Fig. 3). The guide member 28 is slotted in its lower horizontal portion for the reception and sliding movement therein of thev trigger. The upper portion of the guide member between it and the underside of the tubular member 2 provides a guide for the upper portion of the trigger.

The trigger member itself, indicated generally by the numeral 32, is composed of an elongated upper portion 33, a downwardly extending curved portion 34, terminating in a short horizontal portion at the bottom 35. This latter horizontal portion is adapted to slide in the aforementioned groove of the trigger guide 28, and .the

. mounting of the bars 5I.

upper horizontal portion 33 is adapted to slide.

in the space between Vthe bottom of the tubular member 2 and the upper portion of the guide 25.

The forward end of the portion 33 of the trig- 'ger is provided with downwardly extending ears 35 between which, by means of the pivot pin 35a, is pivotally mounted a latch member 31 which is maintained in its horizontal position by means of the spring 38. The rear end of thevalve stem 23 is provided with a hook portion 23a complementary to the hook 31a on .the latch member 31 and is adapted to engage therewith so that a retraction of the .trigger member 32 from the position shown Fig. 1 to that shown beveled at 42 in the same manner as the beveled portion 4I and is positioned sufficiently close thereto so that a retraction of the trigger and the latch member 31 will result in a contact oi the two beveled surfaces 4I and 42. As the trigger is retracted still farther a camming action will take place resulting in a lowering of the rear portion of the latch 31 and a consequent raising of the front hooked portion thereof. As a result, a full retraction of the trigger member 32 will draw the valve stem 23 away from the constricted opening I8 until the above described camming action has taken place suiiiciently to release the interengaginghooked p'ortions 23a and 31a, at which time the spring 21 will force the valve stem 23 back to its ncrmal closed position. The position of these mem' bers when the trigger is in its fully retracted position is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

A hollow tube or conduit` 43 extends from the able but may be secured in place by means ofthe bracing members 45.

In the modificationdisclosed in Fig. 5 the construction of the nozzle is identical with that shown in Fig. l, and the trigger guide member 28a is similar to the guide member 23 shown in Fig. 1 except that it is provided with an opening 50 in the front side thereof for a purpose which will be hereinafter.more fully described.

A bar 5| is pivotally secured, one at each side, to the rear end of the rod 23a, as shown at 52, and extends rearwardly through the opening 5l in the guide member 28a. The rear end of the rod 23a being changed from that shown in Fig. 1 so that it is provided with a flat surface at each side thereof permitting the pivotal A second and shorter bar 53 is pivotally secured at its rear end to the rear end of the bars 5I at 54. A supporting member 55 extends downwardly from the under side of the lower tubular member 2 and has pivotally mounted thereon the trigger member 55, which is provided with a recess 51 and a ledge 51a extending rearwardly from the bottom v thereof, which may either` be at one side of the sion spring 6I is fastened at one end to the bars 5| and at its other end to the lower portion of the trigger member 55 so vthat the bars 5I will normally remain in suchv a position that the pivotal point 54 will be below a horizontal plane passing through the pivotal point, 52.

In operation the seal nut 9 is removed from the rear end of the -upper tubular member I, together with the penetrating screw and parts associated therewith. The gas cartridge 8 is inserted and seated on the cartridge retainer l. The fluid may then be poured through the open end of the member I to partially or substantially fill the space within the device. The seal nut 9 is then replaced after which the penetrating screw Ii is forced forwardly until the piercing point l2 pierces the end of the gas cartridge and releases the gas therein which builds up a sufiicient pressure within the gun to project the liquid therefrom out of the nozzle when the valve is opened. Upon aiming the gun and retracting the trigger mechanism of Fig. 1the valve stem will be retracted permitting a stream .of

.is stopped. Upon release of the trigger member it is urged forwardly by means of thel compression spring i and the hooks 23a and 37a are spring 38 on the latch 3l, at which time the gun is in readiness for the projection of a second stream. It is obvious that this operation may be vrepeated as often and as fast as may be desired. In most instances with small animals a single projection may be sufcient, but with larger animals it may be necessary to project several streams,however, the operation may be repeated as long as sumcient pressure remains within the gun to force the-liquid outwardly, which, with this type of cartridge, will `be until the gun is fully discharged.- The tension on the trigger may be regulated by means oi the spring nut 36.

In utilizing the modification of the trigger mechanism shown in Fig. 5, the gun is filled and prepared for use in the same manner as described above with .respect to Fig. l. The operation of the modification in Fig. is such that when the trigger 56 is pulled, the valve stem 23a will be moved rearwardly opening the nozzle for ejection of the fluid. As the trigger 55 is moved rearwardly the pivotal point 5ft will also move rearwardly and upwardly describing an arc so that the pivotal points 5B, 58 and 52 -will be in direct alinement with each other. Immediately upon the pivotal point 54 moving above the plane wherein the three points are in alinment, which is the dead center point of the mechanism, the spring 2l will draw the valve stem forwardly and the pivotal point 54 will move forwardly sumcient to close the nozzle, resulting in a'. toggle action of the bars 5| and 53. The nozzle, then, will have been automatically closed even though the trigger remains in a rearward position. Upon releasing the trigger 56, the tension spring'l will draw ,the bars 5i downwardly so that they, together with the bar 53, will assume their normal position once again as shown in Fig. 5 and the spring 59 will urge the trigger forwardly. It will therefore be seen that with this modified construction, a plurality of streams in rapid succesfil which has the faculty of maintaining full pres- A sure within thev gun until the liquid therein has ao .again engaged because of the pressure of thebeen fully discharged. By way of further explanation, assuming the space within the gun to 'be approximately 19% cubic inches, one cubic `eillcient, and economical to manufacture.

Other modes of applying the principles of my invention may be used instead of the ones here explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed provided, however, that the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularlyfpoint out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. A device of the character described comprising adjacent communicating compartments adapted to be substantially filled with a liquid, pressure producing means located in one of said compartments, a nozzle, means for conveying liquid under pressure from one of said compartments to said nozzle, retractible valve means normally closing said nozzle, manually operable means for retracting said valve a predetermined distance, and means for automatically releasing said retracting means.

2. A device ofr the character described comy means has been moved a predetermined distance.

sion may also be projected from the gunin a 3. A 'iluid gas gun having a barrel, a trigger and a handle thereon comprisinga chamber adapted to be substantially filled with a iluid, a nozzle through which said fluid is adapted to be projected under pressure, and means for building up pressure in said chamber including a gas cartridge, supportingmeans for said cartridge, an opening for receiving said iluid and said car,- tridge, closure means for said opening, and a piercing member extending through said closure means to pierce the cartridge, whereby the gas in said cartridge is released and the resulting pressure is exerted on the iluid.

4. The combination with a device for projecting a stream of iluid under pressure through a nozzle, of means for openingl and closing said nozzle comprising a valve stem provided with a hook at one end thereof, a trigger, a latch on said trigger cooperatively associated with said hook, whereby a retraction of said trigger will cause a retraction of said valve stem and opening o1' said nozzle, and spring means to close said valve upon release of said valve stem.

5. 'I'he combination of elements ,defined in claim 4, combined with means for automatically releasing said valve stem to close said nozzle after said trigger has been retracted a predetermined distance.

6. The combination or nements defined in.

i link connecting said bar with said trigger to form a toggle, means urging said bar downwardly, and means urgingv said trigger forwardly, the parts being so arranged that a partial rearward movement of said trigger will open the nozzle and a continued rearward movement thereof will close said nozzle.

8. A fluid gas gun comprising, an elongated chamber having a lateral hollow extension thereon adapted to hold an amount of iluid for ejection, a second elongated chamber mounted adjacent the first chamber and substantially parallel thereto, means in one of said chambers for,

producing pressure, a nozzle on the other of said chambers, a conduit extending from said lateral projection to said nozzle, and means for opening and closing said nozzle whereby an amount of iiuid under pressure is permitted to be ejected therefrom.

9. A fluid gas gun comprising, a chamber for holding a fluid under constant pressure, a nozzle, a valve normally closing said nozzle, a trigger to actuate said valve movable longitudinally o the gun, and means connecting said trigger with said valve to open Aand close said nozzle to thereby eject an amount of fluid therethrough upon continuous movement of said trigger in one direction.

l0. A device of the character described comprising, a chamber adapted to be substantially filled with a fluid, a second communicating chamber provided lwith means for producing pressure in both chambers, a nozzle, means for conveying the liquid under pressure to said nozzle, an elongated retractable valve stem having a valve normally closing said nozzle, means for manually retractingsaid valve stem to permit flow of uid through said nozzle, and means to automatically return said valve stem to normal closed position upon further movement of the retracting means, thereby stopping the how of fluid.

i1. A fluid gas gun comprising, a chamber for holding uid under constant pressure, a nozzle through which said iiuid is to be projected, a conduit connecting said chamber with said noz-z zle, a retractable valve stem having a valve nor mally closing said nozzle, means movable iongi tudinally of the gun to retract said valve stem to permit forced ejection of said iluidvthrough said nozzle, and means to automatically close said .nozzle upon further movement of the retracting means in the same direction.

12. The combination with a device for projecting a stream of iluid under constant pressure and an opening through which the stream is to be projected, of a valve slidably mounted for movement to open and close said opening, means for urging said valve to closed position, a trigger element, means on said trigger connecting same with said valve, whereby a retraction of the trigger moves said valve to open position, and means for automatically disconnecting said trigger and valve after said trigger has been retracted a predetermined distance, whereby said opening is closed.

13. 'I'he combination with a device for projecting a stream of fluid under constant pressure and an opening through which the stream is to be projected, of a valve slidably mounted for movement to open and close said opening, means for urging said valve to closed position, a trigger element, means on said trigger connectingl same with said valve wherebya' retraction of the trigger moves said valve to open position, said last named means including a pivotally mounted latch on said trigger element, means thereonfor engagement with said valve, and means for releasing said latch.

14. The combination with a device for projecting a stream of fluid under constant pressure and an opening through which the stream is to be projected, of a valve slidably mounted for movement to open and close said opening, means for urging said valve to closed position, a trigger element, means on said trigger connecting same y with said valve whereby a retraction of the trigger moves said valve to open position, said last named means including a pivotally mounted latch provided with a hook aty one end thereof, a hook on said valve adapted to engage the hook on said latch, and means for automatically disengaging said hooks upon retraction of said trigger a predetermined distance to thereby close said opening.

l5. The combination with a device for projecting a stream of iluid under constant pressure and an opening Vthrough which the stream is to be projected, of a valve slidably mounted for movement to open and close said opening, means for urging said valve to closed position, a triggerelement, means on said trigger connecting same with said valve whereby a retraction of the trigger moves said valve to open position, said last named means including a pivotally mounted latch provided with a hook at one end thereof, a hook on said valve adapted to engage the hook on said latch, the opposite end of said latch having a beveled portion thereon and camming means adjacent said beveled portion against which said latch is adapted to come when the trigger is retracted, whereby the valve is released to close said opening.

E. GREENE. 

